DISSEMINATION OF PRENSA LATINA MATERIAL

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP75-00793R000100340010-1
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
12
Document Creation Date: 
December 12, 2016
Document Release Date: 
August 8, 2002
Sequence Number: 
10
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
January 16, 1973
Content Type: 
MF
File: 
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PDF icon CIA-RDP75-00793R000100340010-1.pdf421.13 KB
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Approved For Release 2002/09/05 : CIA-RDP75-00793R0OW0340010-1 OGC 73-0075 16 January 1973 MEMORANDUM FOR: SUBJECT: REFERENCE: Dissemination of PRENSA LATINA Material Your memo to OGC, Same Subject 1. Referent memorandum requests the opinion of this office on the following questions: a. Did a public statement by Premier Fidel Castro on 30 April 1967 to the effect that Cuba intended to disre- gard international copyright laws, such as the Universal Copyright Convention (UCC), constitute legal abrogation of such agreements by Cuba; and, STAT STAT STAT 2. In response to the first question, it seems pertinent to discuss recent international copyright developments with regard to developing nations such as Cuba. 3. During the 1960's the emergence of newly developing nations with serious educational needs led to a crisis in the inter- national copyright field as these countries sought to import foreign educational materials from developed nations on terms they could afford. Led by India, these developing countries pressed rigorously for reform of international copyright agreements which they viewed as an impediment t6 their cultural and educational advancement. Approved For Release 2002/09/05 : CIA-RDP75-00793R000100340010-1 Approved For Relee 2002/09/05 : CIA-RDP75-00793R000~340010-1 4. In recent years, two international conferences have been held to consider the problem of access to copyrighted materials by developing nations. 5. The first conference took place in Stockholm in 1967 to consider revisions of the Berne Convention (1886), which is the other major international, copyright agreement in addition to the Universal Copyright Convention (1955). The United States and Cuba are signatories to the UCC but are not parties to the Berne Convention and attended the 1967 conference in Stockholm as observers. At this conference a very liberal protocol was adopted providing developing nations with broad and practically uncontrolled access to educational and scientific materials copy- righted in Berne member states. This protocol, however, was considered unacceptable to the governments of most developed countries and never entered into force, 6. Developing countries then pressed for revision of the UCC; some of these countries threatened to renounce international copyright laws entirely if reform did not take place. In an effort to forestall this possibility, a second conference was held in Paris in 1971 to discuss revisions of the UCC. A compromise was reached at this conference and developing nations obtained reasonable concessions from developed nations, primarily in the area of use of copyrighted materials for educational and cultural purposes. The United States signed the revised agree- ment in 1971 and the Senate ratified the Agreement on 14 August 1972. 7. It seems, then, that Castrots remarks in 1967 were made in an atmosphere when international copyright laws were under intense review and criticism not only from Cuba, but from many other developing nations as well. It should also be noted that Castro was discussing educational works. Under the agree- ment reached in 1971, Cuba is now entitled to receive the special benefits provided for developing nations regarding use of copy- righted materials for educational purposes. This point was made clear during the Senate ratification hearings when Senator Fulbright asked a witness if Cuba would be a beneficiary under the proposed revisions of the UCC and he received an affirmative reply, (Hearings before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Executive G, 92d Cong., Zd Sess. at p. 52 (1972)). Approved For Release 2002/09/05 : CIA-RDP75-00793R000100340010-1 Approved For Relea 2002/09/05 : CIA-RDP75-00793R000100.340010-1 8. Under these circumstances, it is the opinion of this office that Castro's remarks in 1967 did not constitute legal abrogation by the Cuban Government of the provisions of the Universal Copyright Convention. Moreover, Cuba has not formally withdrawn from the Universal Copyright Convention, according to Mr. George D. Cary, STAT Register of Copyrights. STAT ssistant General Counsel rig Subject - COPYRIGHT 1 Signer 1 - Chrono OGC Approved For Release 2002/09/05 : CIA-RDP75-00793R000100340010-1 STAT Approved For Release 2002/09/05 : CIA-RDP75-00793R000100340010-1 Next 1 Page(s) In Document Exempt Approved For Release 2002/09/05 : CIA-RDP75-00793R000100340010-1 Approved OFFICIAL aOu G SLIP TO NAME AND ADDRESS DATE INITIALS 2 3 4 5 6 ACTION DIRECT REPLY PREPARE REPLY APPROVAL DISPATCH RECOf IMENDATION COMMENT FILE RETURN CONCURRENCE INFORMATION SIGNATURE Rem arks: Attached is the memorandum we discussed Mor day. I have also attached for your background information a copy of the Registration Statement PRENSA LATINA filed with the Department of Justice in 1962 and a copy of a memorandum whit discusses the risk of liability of a suit for copy- right infringement or unfair competition. Please note that in para. 6 of that memorandum in which we stated that the ris k of liability is inconsequen- tial. FOLD HERE TO RETURN TO SENDER FROM: NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NO. DATE s an enera Counsel 7D07 HQ 1/16/73 UNCLASSIFIED CONFWENTIAL SECRET NOTE ATTACHED TO OCC 73-0075 Approved For Release 2002/09/05 CIA=RDP75-00793R000100340010-1 STAT STAT (5d. 4-26-65) Approved For Relese 2002/09/05 : CIA-RDP75-00793R0Q 00340010-1 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Memorandum STAT I I Office of cil Central Intelligence Agency DATE: r^; , s n c7 oM : Justin J. O'Shea, Chief Registration Section SUBJECT: PRENSA LATINA In accordance with your telephone request of November 27, 1972 I am enclosing a copy of the Exhibit C filed in connection with the registration statement of Prensa Latina under the provisions of the Foreign Agents Registra- tion Act. The statement and exhibit were filed on April 16, 1962. Approved For Release 2002/09/05 : CIA-RDP75-00793R000100340010-1 STAT Approved For Release 2002/09/05 : CIA-RDP75-00793R000100340010-1 Next 2 Page(s) In Document Exempt Approved For Release 2002/09/05 : CIA-RDP75-00793R000100340010-1 i3ureau No. .3-RGlf>.i A.. tir al expires -31-18 Api&oved FIease 2002/09/05: CIA-RDP75-00 100100340010-1 UNITED ST11TES D-E, P: RTMENT OF JUSTICE WASIIINGTON, Ii. C. EXHIBIT C TO REGISTRATION STATEMENTS ?. GIISTRATION No. Under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, As Amended Furnish this exhibit for each FOREIGN PRINCIPAL of the Registrant. THIS ENIiIBI`I` WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR FILING UNLESS IT IS REASONABLY COMPLETE AND ACCURATE. 1. Name and address of Registrant. 2. (a) Name of Foreign Principal. PREATSA LATINA, AGENCIA INFORMATTVA LATINOAP4ERICANA, SOCIEDA.D ANON-DIA (United States office) 580 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. PRENSA LATINA, AGENCIA INFORMATIVA IJATINOAMERICANA, SOCIEDAD ANQNIM (b) Principal address of Foreign Principa , Edif. Seguro Medico 23rd Street, No. 201 Havana, Cub 3, If the Foreign Principal is a foreign governarrcnt, state tie following: grb e here t represented or an.c thereof istro resented Name and title of official with y K whom Registrant deals Not applicable 4. If the Foreign Principal is an individual (natural person), state - (a) All present business and residence addresses not giver under item 2(b). (b) Citizenship or nationality: (c) If an officer, employee, or agent of a foreign government, foreign political party, or any official or agency thereof, state - Name of such government, Nature of Foreign Principal's Nature of any subsidy political party, official, or office,, employment, or or other financial agency agency arrangement Not applicable 5. If the Foreign Principal is not an individual (natural person) or a foreign government, state the following: (a) Type of Foreign Principal's organization. Committee Voluntar y group--- Association Partnership Cor orati p on Foreign Political Party Other (specify),... ___ (b) Date and place of organization. April 16, 1,959 in Havana, Cuba Approved For Release 2002/09/05 : CIA-RDP75-00793R000100340010-1 Approved Fohilelease 2002/09/05: CIA-RDP75-00700100340010-1 (c) All partners, officers, directors, and similar officials of the Foreign Principal. Name and address of official Position, office or nature of duties See Appendix Vi., annexed hereto (d) List, if any, all of the Foreign Principal's branches and local. units and other component or affiliated groups or organizations in the United States and elsewhere. Name and address of branch, unit Nature of connection with foreign group, or organization principal See Appendix VII, annexed hereto (e) "Branch or group, if any, represented by Registrant. United States office 6. If the Foreign Principal is not a foreign government but is supervised, directed, or controlled by a foreign government, foreign political party, or an official or agency thereof, or by any other person or persons, state - Name of such government, political Nature and extent of supervision, party, or other persons direction or control Registrant is informed and believes that this item is not applicable 7. If the Foreign Principal is not a foreign government but is financed or subsidized in any way by a foreign gov- ernment, foreign political party, or an official or agency thereof, or by any other person or persons, state - Name of such government, political Nature and extent of such financing arty, or other persons or subsidization Registrant is informed and believes that Foreign Principal receives the sum of $125,000 (Cuban) monthly from Radio Difu ora Naciorlai , an agency of or under the supervision of a ministry of the government of the Republic of Cuba, on statements rendered for services furnished by the Foreign Principal to that agency.. 8. If the Foreign Principal is not a foreign government, state nature of all its businesses, occupations or func- tions: The receipt, transmission and broadcasting, recording and printing of news, ideas, information, national and international reports and com- ments, through the media:;of press, radio, .television, etc. Approved For, Release 2002/09/05 : CIA-RDP75-00793R000100340010-1 I Approved Folease 2002/09/05 : CIA-RDP75-007940100348040-1 REGISTRATION No Sect-o APPENDIX VII Exhibit c Item 5(d)) , ov au Registrant is informed and believes that all of the Foreign Principal's branch offices (together with names of the employees in charge) are, as follows: Sr. Aroldo Wall Ave. Almirante Barrosco No. 91 Salas 502-503 Rio de Janeiro BRASIL.. Amado Canelas Orellana Bellavista No. 248 Casilla 2626 La Paz BOLIVIA. Efrain Rodriguez V. Calle 3ra. entre Aves. 8-10 No. 856 San Jose COSTA RICA. Hugo Latorre Cabal Calle 86 No. 11-67 Bogota D.E. COLOMBIA. Jose Leoncio Fernandez Petrske Namesti 1 Praha 1, C.S.R. CHECOSLOVAQUIA. Carlos Jorquera Tolosa Union Central No. 1010 Oficina 1114 Santiago de Chile CHILE. Carlos Padilla Perez Calle Bolivar No. 268 esquina a Venezuela Quito ECUADOR. Francisco V. Portela 580 Fifth Ave., Apartment 903 New York 36, N. Y. UNITED STATES.r Sr. Alberto Perez 88 Farringdon St. 3rd floor London E.C. 4. ENGLAND. Ventura Ramos Sta. Ave. lava. Calle Comayaguela, Tegucigalpa HONDURAS. Edmundo Jardon Arzate Atenas No. 40, 2do. piso MEYIco 6, D. F. MEXICO. Jaime Padilla Beliz Ave. Peru No. 32-20 Oficina 2 Panama Rep. de PANAMA. Alfredo Munoz Unsain Calle 18 de Junio No. 1277 Montevideo URUGUAY. Approved For Release 2002/09/05 : CIA-RDP75-00793R000100340010-1 Approved F? elease 2002/09/05 : CIA-RDP75-007 ?f100100340010-1 r. - ~' RFGISTRATT0N Nti> - .... : ~ ' Of- APPENDIX I Exhibit C, Item 5(c fl Registrant is informed and believes that the officers, directors and similar persons of the Foreign Office are, as follows: Fernando F. Revuelta Office Address: Director General -? Edif. Segura Medico Executive Head and 23rd Street, No. 201 Chief Operating Havana, Cuba Officer of the Foreign Principal Residence address: Focsa Building M & 17th Streets Vedado Havana, Cuba Francisco Martinez Morell Address unknown President Dra. Nelida Rodriguez Perez Secretary Alberto Perdomo Treasurer Everardo Navas " if General Manager Approved For Release 2002/09/05 : CIA-RDP75-00793R000100340010-1 Approved For Release 2002/09/05 : CIA-RDP75-00793R000100340010-1 Approved For Release 2002/09/05 : CIA-RDP75-00793R000100340010-1